Pump



, Jain. 15, w J. H. FITZGERALD 2,393,095.'

yPUMP Filed Oct. 7, 1944 v 5 Sheets-Sheet l w JHRZWMZCZ m Wfqwf Jan. 15, 1946. J. H. FITZGERALD y 2,393,096

@MMM

Jan. l5, 1946. J H FITZGERALD ,2,393,095

PUMP

Filed oct. 7, 1944 5 sheets-sheet s Patented Jan. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE PUBIP James' H. Fitzgerald, Westiicid, N. Application October 7, 1944, Serial No. 557,65()

(El. 10S-16.6.5)

- 21 claims Ihis invention relates to pumps and has special reference to a pump of the force delivery type particularly adapted for the handling of concrete and other semi-duid materials.

One important object of the invention is to improve the general construction ci pumps of this character so that they may operate smoothly and deliver the material in a uniform state throughout the operation of the pump.l

A second important object of the invention is to provide in a device of this kind having a hopper, means for cutting oi supply from the hopper during the expulsion stroke of the pump, such means being of novel character. y

A third important object ofthe invention is to provide a novel form of piston for the pum-p wherein the piston is so shaped and arranged as to form a :cut-oit for material delivered to the pump cylinder.

A fourth important object of the invention is to provide novel valve means operating to admitair between the piston and the material being delivered during the retraction stroke of such piston.

A fth important object of the invention is to provide means for the automatic operation ci the various parts of the invention so that control may be had from Va single operating station.

With the above and other objects in view as will hereinafter be apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel features of construction andl combina-tions of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, showing the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section to an enlarged scale, the section being taken on the axis of the pump cylinder;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, online 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure e but snowin g the parts in a position diierent from that shown'in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line 6--6 of Figure 3.-

Fgure 7 is a section on line -1-1 of Figure 2.

vFigure 8 is a vertical axial section showing a modified form of valve for controlling. the flow' of material vfrom the hopper.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the valve means shown in Figure 8.

' rod I2,

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail section on line Ill- Id of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary View showing a section of the pump in a modified form. *Y

Figure 12 is a lsection online IZ-i 2 of Figure 11.

In the embodiment of the invention as herein shown there is disclosed a base Il which Vmay consist of a pair of structural elements such as I-beams, channels or the like. On one end of this base is mounted an operating cylinder II having the usual piston (not shown) and piston On the base I0 is a special valve I3 having an operating handle M. This valve may be of any desired construction, no claim being made to particular construction thereof. receives operating fluid such as steam, compressed air, or liquid under pressure through an inlet pipe I5 and exhausts the operating duid through an exhaust pipe I6. The ends of the cylinder II are connected to this valve I3 by means of pipes Il. When the operating handle I4 is in one position the valve will connect the inlet pipe I5 to one end of the cylinder and the exhaust pipe I6 Vto the other end of the cylinder in another position of the handle I4 these connections will be reversed.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 7, the material to be pumped is loaded into a hopperl I8 and beneath this hopper is a screw conveyor I3 operated by any preferred means, such meansvbeing not deemed necessary here to be shown. Depending from the delivery end of the screw conveyor is adelivery spoutil which is connected to the upper end of a Valve box 2|. lExtending diagonally within this valve box is a diaphragm 22 having an opening 23 therein. Journalled in one side of the valve box is a perpendicular stub shaft 2A. A plate l25 rests against the underside of the diaphragm 22-l and is provided with a projecting boss 2t which is keyed to the lower` end of the shaft 24 Within the valve box. Thus this plate 25 may be rotated by the stub-shaft 24 to close or open the opening 23. On the upper end of stub-shaft 24* is keyed or otherwise secured a rock arm 21. Fixedto the underside of the conveyor I9 is a bracket 28Vhaving a pair of ears 29 which carry apivot pin 3e. At 3| is an operating cylinderl having the usual piston (not shown) and piston rod 32. The rod 32 is pivoted by a pin 33 to the freeend of the rock arm 21. From the cylinder 3l pipes 36 lead to the valve I3. This valve is` so ported that when the cylinder Il is connected to have its rpiston rodA l2 protruded the. piston rod 32' will be retracted and the delivery open-ing 23 will be opened. Also when the piston rod I2 is retracted The valve the rod 32 will be protruded and the opening 23 will be closed.

The valve box 2l opens into the top of a pump cylinder 35 through an inlet branch 36.

The pump cylinder 35 is open at both ends and within this cylinder is a hollow piston 31 which iits closely in the cylinder. This hollow piston is closed at its forward end by a disc or head 38 but extending forwardly from this head the piston is provided at its upper part with a segmental extension 39 beveled at its forward edge as at 40. This segmental extension is of suicient arcuate form to span the lower end of the inlet branch 3B. A piston rod 4| connects the piston 31 to the piston rod l2 as at 42.

As shown in Figure 2, the piston is illustrated in the extreme delivery position in full lines and at the extreme retracted position in dotted lines. Now it will be obvious that if a rod of semi-fluid material such as concrete rests against the disc 38 and an attempt is made to retract the piston 31 there will be a tendency to establish a vacuum between the material just pushed forwardly and the disc or head 38. In order to prevent such tendency with consequent retraction of a portion of the load just pushed forwardly novel air inlet means are provided. To this end the lower part of the cylinder 35 just forwardly of the extreme forward position of the head 38 is slotted and in this slot works a plate 43 having its upper edge concavely arcuate so that when the plate is retracted to the fullest extent of its movement this arcuate upper edge 44 forms a continuation of the inner surface of the cylinder '35. 0n the side of this plate opposite the piston 31 is a groove 45 which is of such vertical extent that the groove lies entirely exterior of the cylinder 35 when the plate 43 is retracted but upon the plate being raised to its furthest extent the groove 45 4,will straddle theV lower part of the cylinder wall and thus afford communication between the cylinder forward of the head 38 and the outer air. By this means air will be admitted in front of the cylinder 35 during retraction of the piston 31 and there will be no tendency to form a vacuum at this point.

In order to effect this operation automatically the cylinder 35 has depending guides- 46 between which the plate 43 is guided. An operating cylinder 41 lies below the plate 43, the cylinder being provided with the usual piston (not shown) and piston rod 48 which latter is connected to the plate 43 as at' 49. The cylinder` 41 is connected to the valve I3 by means of pipes 50 and this valve is so ported that when the piston rodv I2 is Vretracted the piston rod 48 will be protruded and when the piston rod I2 is protruded the pis..

ton rod 43 will be retracted. It will now be observed that one position of the handle I4 will effect simultaneous opening of the valve 25, dropping of the plate 43 and forward movement of the piston 31 while the other position of the handle I4 will close the valve 25, draw the piston 31 backwardly and raise the plate 43. Obviously,

y `the arrangement ofthe valve must be such that the plate 43 will rise prior to backward movement lof the piston 31.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 the hopper 5I is of inverted frusto-conical form and has at its lower end a neck 52 leading to the intake portion 36 of the cylinder 35. At the junction of the neck 52 with the hopper 5| there is iixed to the hopper a frusto-cylinder spreader plate 53 having therein a. pair of openings 54. At the upper end of the plate 53 there is provided a ball race 55 carrying ball 55 and on the4 ball rests a ball race 51 from which projects downwardly and outwardly a pair of segmental conical valve members 58 which in one position will close the openings 54 while in a second position they will keep these openings open. 'I'he upper ball race 51 is fixed on the lower end of a shaft 59 and thi-s shaft is operated in the same manner as the shaft 24, the operating connection not being deemed necessary here to be shown.

In the form of the invention sh-own in Figures 11 and 12, the hopper 69 is of ordinary conical form and delivers to a pump intake portion 6I which opens into the upper side of a cylinder having forward end portion (i2 and a rear end portion 63, these end portions being connected at opposite ends oi a washing cell 'E4 having its central portion of somewhat greater diameter than the diameter of the cylinder portions 62 and 63. A water supply pipe G5 leads to the cell '54 and a water drain pipe `lili leads therefrom. 'I'he cylinder 61 dilers from that shown in Figure 2 since it has no forwardly projecting portion such as shown at 39. However, it is operated in the same manner bythe piston rod 4|. The pump intake `5l is formed with a forwardly extending pocket 68 which is normally closed off from the remainder of the intake 6| by meansof a flexible apron 69 of rubber or other suitable material, this apron having a substantial semi-circular lower edge which rits around the piston `61 as shown in Figure 12. The purpose of this apron is to prevent jamming of the pump when pumping such material as concrete by a stone engaging between the upper forward edge of the piston 61 and the wall of the intake 6|. The pocket 68 is large enough to accommodate any such stone and under these conditions if such a stone were to fall into position to be engaged by the upper forward edge of the piston '61 it would simply push the apron 69 into the pocket 6B and be held in the pocket during the forward movement ofthe piston, dropping back into the cylinder portion'62 when the piston is retracted.

In this form of the invention the plate 43 has been shown as operating froml the upper side oi the cylinder but the operation will be the same as the form shown in Figure 2'.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, and relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder' forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke.

2. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, and relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder for wardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including a plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston.

3. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral lntake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end oi the piston stroke. and operating means eecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open pulsion stroke of said piston.

4. In a. pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief -valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the' expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including a plate extending transversely of lthe cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation kof said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open during admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said piston.

5. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a rpiston vreciprocahle across said opening between expu1- sionv and admission positions, valvepmeans for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the exe pulsion end oi' the piston stroke, and admission valve means controlling the intake opening1 6. Ina pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciproeable across said opening between ennuir sinn and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly ofthe expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief .valve means including a plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston,A and admission valve means controlling the intake opening.

.7.. In a pump, a cylinder having a. lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocahle across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, admission valve means controlling the intake opening, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open during admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said piston.

8. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end 0f the piston stroke, said relief valve means includingr a, plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston, admission valve means controlling the intake opening, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open during admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said piston.

9. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, admission valve means controlling the intake opening, and operating means elfecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open dur,

ing admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said piston, said operating means further effecting opening of the intake opening during admission stroke and closing of said opening during expulsion stroke of said piston.

10. In a pump, a cylinder havmg -a lateral inltake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocalole across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, `relief valve means for admitting air tothe cylinder forwardly of the .expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including .a plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side Iopposite the piston, admission valve Vmeans controlling the intake opening, and koperating means eifecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief` valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open during admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said'piston, said operating means further effecting opening of the intake opening during admission stroke and closing of said opening during expulsion stroke of said piston.

1'1. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake `opening `and an :end` discharge opening, a, piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, said piston having a knife edge extension traversing the intake opening during reciprocation of the piston, and relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke.

12. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening `between expulsion and admission positions, and` relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including a plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an *air admission groove on the side oppositev the piston, said piston having a knife edge extension traversing the intake opening during reciprocation of the piston.

13. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve opening during admission stroke and closed during eX- pulsion stroke of said piston, said piston having a lmife edge extension traversing the intake opening during reciprocation of the piston.

14. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a

' piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including a plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open during admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said piston, said piston having a knife edge extension traversing the intake opening during reciprocation of the piston.

15. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between i; 16.- In a pump,A a cylinder vtake opening and an end discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admissionpositions, said. cylinder having a material receiving reliefchamber forwardly of said inlet opening, a flexible curtain ,between theinlet opening and relief chamber, and-relief valve means for admitting air .to the cylinder'forwardly of the expulsion end of the having a lateral inexpulsion and admission positions, said cylinder having a material receiving relief chamber forwardly of said inlet opening, a iiexible curtain vbetween the inlet opening and'relief chamber, and relief valve means for admitting air to the clyinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including ,af plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston.-

17. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and an end discharge opening, a

piston reciproca'ble across said opening between expulsion andadmission positions, said cylinder `havingl a material receiving relief chamber forl wardly-of said inlet opening, a flexible curtain -between the inlet opening and relief chamber, 'relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly 'of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief wardly of said inlet opening, a' flexible curtain between the inlet opening and relief chamber, relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardlyof the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including a plate extending 'transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on the side opposite the piston, and operating means effecting reciprocation of said piston and operation of said relief valve means in timed relation with the relief valve open during admission stroke and closed during expulsion stroke of said piston.

19. Ina pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and anend discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across saidV opening between expulsion and admission positions, and relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means 'including a 'plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on one side thereof.

20. A pump as set forth in claim 1, wherein lthe relief valve means includes an element adapted to enter the cylinder and constructed for the ladmission o`f external air to the cylinder upon entry of the element into the cylinder.

2l. In a pump, a cylinder having a lateral intake opening and anV end 'discharge opening, a piston reciprocable across said opening between expulsion and admission positions, and relief valve means for admitting air to the cylinder forwardly of the expulsion end of the piston stroke, said relief valve means including a plate extending transversely of the cylinder and having an air admission groove on one side thereof, said cylinder having an opening therein for the passage of said element and said element being normally disposed in Vsaid openingto present one y end thereof as a part of the cylinder wall.

` JAMES FITZGERALD. 

